Description
These Homemade Mini Pizza Bagel Bites are a quick and delicious snack featuring toasted mini bagels topped with marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and basil. Perfect as an appetizer or party treat, they combine classic pizza flavors in a convenient bite-sized form with a golden, bubbly cheese finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Bagels & Butter Mixture
- 8 mini bagels, split in half
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Toppings
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 24 fresh basil leaves
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced (about 16 slices)
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Toast Bagels: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese. Dip the cut sides of the mini bagels into this butter mixture, ensuring they are well coated. Place the bagels cut side up on a parchment-lined baking sheet and toast them in the oven for 5 minutes to lightly brown and infuse flavor.
- Prepare Tomatoes: While the bagels are toasting, toss the halved cherry tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and the remaining 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to evenly coat. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld.
- Assemble Pizzas: Remove the toasted bagels from the oven. Spread marinara sauce generously on half of the bagel halves. On all bagels, place slices of mozzarella cheese, covering the surface. On the bagels without marinara sauce, add half of the fresh basil leaves and the prepared cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle all bagels with the remaining Parmesan cheese for added taste.
- Bake: Return the baking sheet with the assembled bagel pizzas to the oven. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the mozzarella cheese is fully melted and bubbly with slight golden browning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the bagel bites from the oven. For the pizzas topped with basil and tomatoes, add the remaining fresh basil leaves on top. Optionally, garnish with chopped fresh parsley and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for extra color and a hint of spice. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh mozzarella for optimal melting and taste.
- Customize toppings to your preference, such as adding pepperoni or olives.
- To make this recipe vegetarian, ensure marinara sauce and cheese are vegetarian-friendly.
- For crispier bagels, toast a few minutes longer before assembling.
- These pizza bagel bites are best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated in the oven to maintain crispness.
